If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or another age-related memory issue, spending quality time with them is crucial. To liven up your next visit, consider playing a memory game. “Memory games” are simple games that provide seniors with opportunities to practice cognitive skills and stretch their memory muscles. While these games offer serious benefits, they also provide entertainment and social stimulation for both you and your senior loved one. Let’s explore a few fun memory games for seniors.
Four Fun Memory Games for Seniors
BINGO
Who doesn’t love a good game of bingo? This classic is an excellent game for seniors with age-related memory issues because the BINGO game materials’ sights, sounds, and textures engage seniors’ senses and stimulate their memory. Seniors also practice their cognitive skills by identifying and marking the numbers as they’re called, and the competitive aspect keeps it fast-paced and joyful. As a bonus, many other seniors love to play BINGO, too, so getting a game going with a group is easy. It’s a great way to make new friends!
Jigsaw Puzzles
Not every senior is looking for a fast-paced game experience. If you want a quiet activity that will still be a lot of fun, jigsaw puzzles are an excellent diversion for seniors with age-related memory issues. It’s a chance to flex their problem-solving abilities while also using their memory skills to recreate the image from the box. If you’re worried a random puzzle might be too complex, try a specially designed puzzle pack for seniors with dementia. You can even make a simple personalized photo puzzle for your loved one by printing out a favorite photo, cutting it into a few pieces, and helping them reassemble it.
SWITCH IT UP
If you’re looking for a simple game to let your senior loved one test their memory and physical coordination, try a round of Switch It Up. The rules are simple: choose a task you typically do with your dominant hand and try to do it with your non-dominant hand instead. It may sound silly, but it will challenge your memory and spatial awareness as you think through how to complete the task. You might surprise yourself with how challenging it can be!
Go Fish
Simple card games are an excellent fit for seniors with age-related memory issues because most people know the rules already, and they’re easy to pick up and play with a group. One of our favorite card games to play with seniors is Go Fish. Each player is dealt a hand of cards, and they compete to win by matching their cards with the other players’ cards. If a player asks another player for a card they don’t have, they must “go fish” and add a new card to their hand. The winner is whoever can empty their hand by pairing cards the fastest.
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Fun memory games for seniors are an excellent way to enjoy time with a loved one experiencing age-related memory issues. If your loved one might benefit from dedicated memory care support, Waterstone on Augusta can help.
Are you looking for a premier assisted living and memory care community in the heart of downtown Greenville, South Carolina? Visit us at Waterstone on Augusta. Our community is both relaxing and elegant, and we strive to enhance the quality of life of the seniors we serve through teamwork and unity. To learn more about our amenities and to view our lovely community, please schedule a tour online or call us today at 864-605-7236.